Literary Canines Trivia Quiz

Answer: Boots

Boots tell us the story of the book. He says of himself; 'I am son of Kildonan Brogue-Champion Reserve'. Boots is a terrier and fights with rats, does parlour tricks for his master and mistress and is an acute observer of the social niceties of the day.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936 ) was born in Bombay to John Lockwood Kipling and his wife Alice. His father was both an artist and teacher of architectural sculpture. He was a prodigious literary talent including poetry and novels as well as short stories.

Answer: Boyd

The main character Temperance Brennan has two pets, Bird and Boyd. These pets form the domestic focus of her life and routine work or emergencies have to allow care for Boyd and Bird to be sensitively managed. Boyd rarely helps in the investigation but his loving attention provides moments of tension release from the dark pressures of being a forensic anthropologist.

Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist in North Carolina, Quebec.
She has applied her experiences whilst writing her best selling novels.

The Temperance Brennan series includes: 'Déjà Dead', 'Death du Jour', 'Deadly Decisions', and 'Fatal Voyage'.

Answer: Buck

Buck found his true destiny as the leader of a wolf pack. He became a legend of north Alaska. His life journey was adventurous and arduous, taking place against the backdrop of the famous Klondike Gold Rush.

From a privileged lifestyle as a young dog in pampered surroundings in California, he was betrayed and ended up as a sled dog in the frozen North American wastelands. Buck showed tremendous resolve and fortitude and great strength of character in overcoming his challenges.

John Griffith ("Jack") London (1876-1916) was one of the most powerfully evocative writers of America in the early 20th Century. If you are new to his works I recommend a close study of his own life as well as his novels.

Answer: Bullseye

The character Bullseye demonstrates loyalty of an extreme quality and he is faithful to his master Bill Sikes even though he beat him so severely the dog had to be stitched. Bullseye doggedly followed Bill to his final hiding place where his ungrateful master sought to drown him.

Answer: Montmorency

Sadly, it appears that unlike the other three characters in the book the dog Montmorency never existed. 'Montmorency I evolved out of my inner consciousness,' admitted Jerome. 'Dog friends that I came to know later have told me it was true to life'.

The subtitle of the novel was ('To Say Nothing of the Dog').
It was published in 1889 and humorously recounts the tale of a voyage by Jerome K. Jerome (the author) and two friends on a boating holiday on the Thames between Kingston and Oxford.

Answer: Orson

The dog Orson has a high degree of intelligence and empathy which he loyally places at the service of his master. He loves beer and helping his master. According to the character Christopher Snow (the master), Orson has several extraordinary abilities all of which figure in the novels.

Koontz wrote his first novel 'Star Quest' which was published in 1968. From there he went on to write over a dozen more science fiction novels.
From the 1970s onwards, Koontz has used a wide range of pseudonyms including (but not a complete list): Deanna Dwyer, K. R. Dwyer, Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, John Hill, Leigh Nichols, Owen West, Richard Paige, Leonard Chris, and Anthony North.

Answer: Sirius

In his character Sirius Stapledon has created a dog coming into human status as he evolves over time. The situations he was faced with assist the dog to achieve and welcomes spirituality or even a soul.

Stapledon was well educated and attended Abbotsholme School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he acquired a BA in Modern History in 1909 and a Masters degree in 1913. He was well respected in the field of ethics and literature.

A feature of his work was the presentation of vast historical perspectives to show the entire history of humanity and its development over vast periods of time have greatly altered descendants.

Answer: Toto

L. Frank Baum wrote the novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. He also wrote thirteen sequels and nine other fantasy novels.

Answer: Timmy

Timmy was not just a dog. He was one of the Famous Five. In my eyes he was the bravest and most resourceful of them all. In the books he was described as a brown mongrel with an unusually long tail and loving brown eyes.

Enid Mary Blyton (1897-1968) was a very popular English children's writer.
She was one of the rare authors who have managed to write for the very young as well as for juvenile readers.

Answer: White Fang

John Griffith ("Jack") London's (1876-1916) own life illustrated the power of personal endeavour and fortitude.

This story of White Fang has a strong survival theme of men and animals struggling against the rugged and challenging environment.